Saint Christopher
Saint Christopher - April 10 th 2008
Martyrdom of Christopher
During the reign of the Emperor Decius , a man named Reprebus was captured in combat against tribes to the
west of
Egypt and was assigned to the numerus Marmaritarum or "Unit
of the Marmaritae", which suggests an otherwise-unidentified "Marmaritae"
Berber
tribe of Cyrenaica.
He was of enormous size and terrifying demeanour, being a
cannibal
with
cynocephaly
(the head of a dog instead of a man), like all the Marmaritae. Christopher was a
Canaanite
12 cubits (18 feet) tall and with a fearsome face. While serving the king of Canaan, he took it into his head to go
and serve the greatest king there was. He went to the king who was reputed to be the greatest, but one day he saw
the king cross himself at the mention of the devil. On thus learning that the king feared the devil, he departed to
look for the devil. He came across a band of marauders, one of whom declared himself to be the devil, so
Christopher decided to serve him. But when he saw his new master avoid a wayside cross and found out that the
devil feared Christ, he left him and enquired from people where to find Christ. He met a
hermit
who instructed him in the Christian faith. Christopher asked him how he could serve Christ. When the hermit
suggested fasting and prayer, Christopher replied that he was unable to perform that service. The hermit then
suggested that because of his size and strength Christopher could serve Christ by assisting people to cross a
dangerous river, where many were perishing in the attempt. The hermit promised that this service would be
pleasing to Christ.
After Christopher had performed this service for some time, a little child asked him to take him across the river.
During the crossing, the river became swollen and the child seemed as heavy as lead, so much that Christopher
could scarcely carry him and found himself in great difficulty. When he finally reached the other side, he said to the
child: "You have put me in the greatest danger. I do not think the whole world could have been as heavy on my
shoulders as you were." The child replied: "You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but him who made
it. I am Christ your king, whom you are serving by this work." The child then vanished.
Christopher later visited the city of Lycia and there comforted the Christians who were being martyred. Brought
before the local king, he refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods. The king tried to win him by riches and by sending
two beautiful women to tempt him. Christopher converted the women to Christianity, as he had already converted
thousands in the city. The king order him to be killed. Various attempts failed, but finally Christopher was beheade
d
.
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